Review: Ending People – Fill Your Lungs

It’s a tantalising prospect but Denver’s Ending People apparently offer “the perfect combination of Lionel Richie’s infectious melodies and Metric’s modern sensibility”. Such a tagline is likely to invite at least some interest for curious listeners and the group’s debut EP, ‘Fill Your Lungs’, frequently rewards with its pristine nostalgic sound.

‘Beat Of My Heart’ is a compelling opener. It recalls the arrangement of songs such as Kate Bush’s ‘Running Up That Hill’, Pat Benatar’s ‘Love Is A Battlefield’ or The Passions’ ‘I’m In Love With A German Film Star’, complete with spot-on 1980’s arrangements: a moody bass, sky-scraping guitars and a strident female vocal are all present and correct, so you can picture the dry ice as it plays. Whatever you might say about the track (and indeed the rest of the EP) being a 1980’s pastiche it is a brilliant song. ‘Tiny Little Army’ brings in some slap bass for good measure but it’s combination of tight rhythms, haunting synths and another excellent lead vocal which are the key elements. Later on, ‘I’m Not Coming Back’ allies primitive electronic beats with melancholic guitars whilst ‘Pretender Pt. 1′ paints a very stylish picture of loneliness too.

Ending People mine a very particular furrow of the 1980’s. It’s one where a band dressed in long overcoats stalk dimly-lit clubs as they seduce late night revellers with their taut synth-led glum pop. Some might say it’s a bit too studied to truly involve but this is classy material, helped by a very authentic production.